Andrew Alberts | Defenseman | #41

Latest News

Recent News

Andrew Alberts (concussion) still hasn't been cleared to resume contact.

The former Vancouver defenseman missed the last 41 games of the 2013-14 season because of a concussion. Alberts is an unrestricted free agent and his health issue will probably his ability to find work elsewhere. Thu, Sep 4, 2014 03:05:00 PM

Andrew Alberts (concussion) is still getting headaches on a daily basis and his NHL career may be over.

Alberts suffered the concussion on December 29 when he was hit high by the Flames Brian McGrattan and while he was headache-free for a couple of days in April, the headaches have returned. Alberts becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and at age 33, his career could be over. Mon, Jun 2, 2014 09:57:00 AM

Andrew Alberts (concussion) has been headache-free for a couple of days.

This is good news as Alberts suffered his concussion on December 29th and has not played since. He has tried skating a couple of times but has had a recurrence of the symptoms and has been forced to shut it down again. "Health is No. 1 right now. I'm not 22 trying to get back into a game. I'm 33 years old," Alberts said. "I'd like to play again. Absolutely, I'd like to. But No. 1, I'd just like to get healthy. Dealing with headaches every day is not something you want to live with." Alberts suffered a concussion early in his career and said he came back too soon so he is taking no chances at this time. Stay tuned. Mon, Apr 21, 2014 09:47:00 AM

Andrew Albert is not close to returning to action after suffering a concussion on December 29.

Coach John Tortorella said that Alberts was 'aways away' from returning and that is not a good sign almost two months after he received a high hit from Calgary's Brian McGrattan. Consider the defenseman out indefinitely. Mon, Feb 24, 2014 08:51:00 AM

Depth Charts

He willl be third all-time in games played by a Swedish-born NHLer, behind only Nicklas Lidstrom (1564) and Mats Sundin (1346). Sedin will also rank 61st amongst all NHL players in games played. That's quite an accomplishment. The Sedins have had a bit of a resurgence this season and as a result are once again fantasy relevant in deep hockey pools.

Bo Horvat scored his 16th goal of the season on a pass from All-Star Brock Boeser in Tuesday's 5-4 loss against the Avalanche.

Horvat scored for the third consecutive game, and the fifth outing in the past six contests. He was playing at an All-Star level early in the season, but an early-December injury stunted his growth. After a exhibiting a little bit of rust in the first nine games of his return, he has re-discovered his scoring touch and is once again a potent fantasy force, one of few in Vancouver this season.

Brandon Sutter picked up a goal with an assist and a plus-2 rating while taking a team-high six shots on goal Tuesday against Colorado.

Not only was the former Carolina Hurricane proficient on the offensive end, he was a beast in the faceoff circle with 16 wins in 25 attempts. He posted a plus-2 rating for just the second time this season, and first time at home. Sutter posted two assists in that game on Oct. 20 in Buffalo, which was also the last time he had a multi-point performance. Needless to say, he remains useful only in the deepest of fantasy formats.

Loui Eriksson scored two goals in a 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

Eriksson ended a seven-game point slump Saturday with his former Boston teammates in town. The Canucks also got goals from Nic Dowd, Sven Baertschi, Bo Horvat, and Daniel Sedin in the win. Eriksson now has 10 markers and 22 points in 47 games this season.

Sven Baertschi posted two assists with a plus-1 rating in Wednesday's 4-3 loss against the visiting Panthers.

The Swiss-born left winger has picked up the pace over the past four outings with a goal and four points, averaging a point per game during the span. He remains on pace for a career-high 40 points. After total just 28 points over 66 NHL games across his first three-plus season in Calgary, he has found a home in Vancouver. Baertschi has 12 or more goals in each of his first three full seasons with the Canucks, and this one is on pace for his best production yet.

Darren Archibald scored his first goal of the season in Tuesday's 5-4 setback against the Avalanche.

It was the first goal in six games this season for Archibald, and just the second of his NHL career spanning 22 contests. For now, the left winger is simply worth monitoring for fantasy purposes. Only if he is able to stick with the big club and see regular ice time would he be worth a fantasy roster spot in deeper pools.

Brock Boeser found the back of the net in Vancouver's 4-3 loss to Florida Wednesday night.

Boeser is on a three-game point streak and has only been held off the scoresheet once in his last five games. He has 27 goals and 49 points in 53 games in 2017-18. That puts him behind only Mathew Barzal in the rookie scoring race.

Vanek is having quite a nice season with 37 points in 52 games and it would not be surprising at all if a playoff bound team is interested in him at the trade deadline. The talented Austrian is 34 but is having his best season since 2013-14 when he had 68 points for three different teams in his contract year.

Derek Dorsett will not return to Vancouver's active roster due to health reasons and risks associated with playing, according to GM Jim Benning.

Dorsett has been advised by doctors to stop playing hockey after it was revealed that he has a cervical disc herniation adjacent and separate to his previous fusion. "I'm devastated by the news. It will take a long time for this to truly sink in," said Dorsett. "As hard as it was to hear, Dr. Watkins' diagnosis is definitive. There is no grey area, and it gives me clarity to move forward. I have a healthy young family and a long life of opportunities ahead of me. Hockey taught me a lot and it will help me be successful in whatever I choose to do in the future." We wish him the best in whatever he decides to do next.

Nikolay Goldobin picked up a power-play goal midway through the second period of Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss against the Avalanche.

Goldobin finished with the goal, an assist and a plus-1 rating over 12:48 of ice time. The right winger entered with just two goals and four points through his first 16 games, so it will take a few more performances like this before fantasy owners can trust him outside of the very deepest of pools.

Benning thinks that Tanev is a part of the Canucks future. "I’m not looking to trade Chris," stressed Benning. "General managers call and I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t listen, but he’s an important guy who will help our young guys develop." Tanev could be back this week from his leg injury. He has two goals and 11 points in 38 games.

Del Zotto got the Canucks on the board at the 3:30 mark of the second period. The goal cut Vancouver's deficit to 3-1 at the time, but that's as close as they'd come to tying the game. He finished the night with a plus-1 rating, two penalty minutes, three shots on goal and six hits in 17:40 of ice time. The 27-year-old four goals, 17 points and a minus-17 rating in 55 games this season. Alex Biega and Sven Baertschi picked up the assists on the Canucks' only goal.

Ben Hutton will likely be a healthy scratch Saturday night against the Maple Leafs.

He worked out on the fourth pairing Saturday morning, which is not a good sign. Hutton, according to Canucks coach Travis Green, has not played very good hockey this season. Make sure bench him if you have not already done so.

Troy Stecher (undisclosed) returned to the lineup Tuesday against the Ducks, and he finished scoreless with a minus-1 rating, two shots on goal, a minor penalty and a hit across 16:33 of ice time.

Stecher had been dealing with a knee injury for most of December, but he was able to return on New Year's Eve only to suffer an undisclosed injury after a hard hit against the Kings. He didn't appear to show any ill effects of his injuries in this one, finishing the game. If you normally depend upon him in deeper fantasy leagues, it appears safe to plug him back into the active lineup.

Alex Biega will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday night as the Vancouver Canucks visit the New York Islanders.

Biega has just two assists in 15 games so far this season with the Canucks. He has just one goal at the NHL level, scored back in his rookie campaign in 2014-2015. Sitting alongside him in the press box will be forward Nikolay Goldobin and injured defenseman Erik Gudbranson.

Derrick Pouliot will be a healthy scratch in Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 24-year-old has been a disappointment since being selected eighth overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He has two goals and 11 points in 43 games this season. This will be the second straight game he watches from the press box. Alex Biega and Darren Archibald will also serve as healthy scratches in this one.

Erik Gudbranson has signed a three-year contract extension with Vancouver.

Gudbranson's new deal will have an average annual value of $4 million. "Erik is an important part of our team and provides a physical element to our blueline," said GM Jim Benning in a statement. "His leadership qualities help us as we continue to integrate younger players in our lineup. He is a quality person, a great teammate, outstanding in the community and we are excited to have him as part of our team moving forward." Gudbranson has four points, 99 hits and 64 blocks in 41 games this season.

Jacob Markstrom has a minor injury and it's unclear if he'll be in the lineup Tuesday night.

Markstrom "tweaked something" and his status may not be decided until closer to game time. If he can dress then he will serve as Anders Nilsson's backup versus Colorado. If he isn't available then call-up Richard Bachman will be on the bench instead.

Nilsson was actually staked to a 4-1 lead late in the second period, but a couple of late penalties in that period resulted in two power-play goals. He still held a 4-3 lead into the final 20 minutes, but Tyson Barrie again erupted on the man advantage with 3:01 left to force overtime. It was yet another PPG by Nathan MacKinnon in the extra session which was the final nail in his coffin. Silly infractions and the penalty kill unit did Nilsson no favors in this one.

Bachman has a 10-7-0 record with a 2.89 GAA and .899 save percentage with Utica of the AHL this season. There have been reports that Jacob Markstrom is dealing with a minor injury, but he was on the ice along with Bachman for the Canucks' optional morning skate.